Title page for ETD etd-05092008-174227

Peer Victimization and Depression: Role of Peers and Parent-Child Relationship

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name

Title

Kim-Spoon, Jungmeen

Committee Chair

Dunsmore, Julie C.

Committee Member

Scarpa-Friedman, Angela

Committee Member

Keywords

peer victimization

parental support

peer support

depressive symptoms

gender differences

Date of Defense

2008-04-28

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationships between physical and emotional peer victimization, parental and peer support and depressive symptoms. The moderating role of parental and peer support and gender differences in such moderation were the focus of the study in examining the association between peer victimization forms and depressive symptoms. Two hundred and sixty one youths (ages 10-14) completed self report measures of parental and peer support and depressive symptoms and were interviewed about their victimization experiences. Physical victimization rates were higher for boys whereas girls reported higher emotional victimization experiences and higher peer support than boys did. Correlations indicated that the experience of physical and emotional victimization by peer is linked to depressive symptoms. For boys, but not for girls, a significant moderation effect indicated that physical victimization was significantly related to depressive symptoms among youths with low peer support whereas physical victimization was not related to depressive symptoms among youths with high peer support. There were significant main effects of parental and peer support for both genders suggesting the importance of such support against depressive symptoms. The study’s findings contribute to the literature regarding peer victimization’s effects on mental health by illustrating the beneficial effect of parent and peer support during adolescence.